Display stand



Feb. 13, 1934. E. c. POTTER msrm' sum) Filed May 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet1 E. C. POTTER DISPLAY STAND Feb. 13, 1934.-

Filed May 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATESDISPLAY STAND 7 Earl C. Potter, Chicago, 111., assignor, bymiesneassignments, to

Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation'ofDelaware Application May 29, 1930. Serial No. 457,183

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a novel construction of collapsible displaystand or similar device and is herein illustrated as comprising amultisided tube-like body portion, capable of being collapsed to assumea flat formation, together with central reinforcing or bracing means,and a floor piece which serves with a part of the tube portion, as areceptacle for receiving and supporting articles or ware, to bedisplayed or exhibited.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stand of the abovedescribed type which is simple in construction and yet strong anddurable in service.

It is further an object to provide astand which may be made up ofsuitable sheet material, such as cardboard, corrugated board, or likeboard or sheet material, whereby itmay be shipped in a flat conditionand set up by a simple and quick operation, is cheap to manufacture andoffers many other serviceable advantages desired in the use of this typeof device.

It is a further object of this invention, to provide certain structuralfeatures which combine peculiarly to produce a highly improved stand andfacilitate the assembling operation and assure the positive, durablecharacter of the stand in its set up form.

These and other objects not specifically enumerated are contemplated forin this invention as will readily appear to one skilled in the art asthe following description proceeds. The description will be more readilyunderstood by reierring to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1is a perspective view of a stand having six sides, constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan viewof the stand partially in set up condition;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inner supporting or bracing meansfor the stand, and

Figure 5 is a cut-away fragmentary view, disclosing the upper end of thestand, showing the arrangement of the floor piece, and the lockingflaps;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, of a modified construction ofthe present invention and Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 5 of themodified construction.

Although the drawings and the following description disclose onepreferred form of the aplicants invention, this is given merely by wayof illustration, and is not to be considered as-' limiting the inventionin any respect.

The scope of the invention may be determined from the appended claim.construed in the light 50 or the understanding derived from thisillustration and an appreciation of the'advantages which the inventionproduces therein.

By referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the presentinvention is illustrated as embodied in a stand comprising a tube 10,which may be formed of any suitable material, such as cardboard,corrugated board or the like, made up of aplurality of flat sides, orwall portions 11, connected by hinges 12. These hinges may be formed byscores in a-continuous piece of board, with opposite edges of a stripconnected by flexible means to produce the tube formation, or the tubemay be made up of any number of separate pieces connected by meansconstituting the necessary hinges.

In any event, the tube will be formed with the number of sides and hingeconnections with the sides of such shape and size, as to produce thefinished tube of the shape desired in the completed stand. By way ofillustration, the stand may be square, triangular, diamond shape, or ofany other geometrical form produced by hinged plane surfaces.

The upper end of the tube body portion, is provided with slits at thelocation of the hinges, whereby to form a plurality of flaps 13.14 and15, together with transverse hinge lines 16, which enable the flaps tobe folded inwardly upon the inside of their respective side wallportions, in the manner clearly shown in Figure 5. These flaps are of aspecial construction to effect an interlocking relation, all in a mannerhereinafter more fully described.

Inside the tube, a bracing and supporting means, such as shown in Figure4, is provided, which comprises a plurality of radially disposed sheetsextending between opposite hinge portions of the tube. In the presentillustration, the bracing member comprises a pair of inter-fittingstrips or. sheets 17 and 18, of rigid board material, each formed with aslot 19, extending from one edge to the middle thereof, in the centrallocation of their width. This arrangement of inter-fitting, is old andwell known, and will be understood to permit the inter-fitting of thestrips 17 and 18 to form cross-braces.

When the strips are thus arranged, they are inserted into the tube whichhas been previously opened up and there placed in engagement with 1opposite corners or hinges ofthe tube in the manner shown in Figure 2.

Additional sheets or strips'2O and 21 of suitable bracing material areemployed, each of a width approximately one-half of the width of sheets17 and 18, whereby they may extend from the center of the stand to theother hinges on opposite sides of the cross braces 17 and 18, in themanner shown in Figure 2, whereby to jointly form a continuous braceextending dia+ metrically across to the opposite hinges.

In this invention, the bracing construction shown in Figure 4, is ofless height than the tube, whereby the bracing means will terminateshort of the upper edge thereof and more particularly, a distance belowthe upper flaps equal to approximately the height of the flapsthemselves.

A floor piece 22 is provided, of flat sheet material previously cut insize and shape to that of the interior horizontal cross sectional shapeof the stand in set up position. The floor piece thus formed is adaptedto be inserted into the interior of the tube, as shown in Figure 5,after the flaps are folded inwardly and positioned below the upper edgeof the tube in a manner to be supported-directly on the upper edges ofthe supporting or bracing members, and to engage the lower inner edges01' the flaps. This floor piece also acts as a brace and serves with thebracing member below, to maintain the exact formation of the stand inset up position.

In setting up the stand, the tube body portion is opened up and thebracing member isinserted, as described. The flaps are then foldedinwardly, in the manner shown in Figure 5, so as to bring their loweredges in approximately the plane of the upper edges of the bracingmember.

The flaps are each cut in a particular manner whereby in assembling thestand, the diametrically opposite flaps 13, are first folded inwardly.The diametrically opposite flaps 14, are next folded inwardly, in thesame manner, but these flaps are formed with their edges adjacent theflaps 13, cut in a manner to over-lie to a slight extent, flaps 13, soas to lock the flaps 13 in the inwardly folded position. Finally, flaps15, are folded inwardly to a similar locking position, which flaps havetheir edges cut to overlap the adjacent edges of both flaps 13 and 14,as shown in Figure 5.

After the flaps are positioned inwardly, as described the floor piece 22is next inserted and forced downwardly until it is supported directly onthe upper edges of the bracing members. In this position, the edges ofthe floor piece will be in engagement with the lower edges of the flapswhereby the parts will be tightly held against accidental displacementor collapse.

When the stand is thus set up, it will readily appear that a receptacleis formed at the upper portion of the stand, suitable for receiving andsupporting articles, to be displayed or exhibited. As a matter ofillustration, this stand may be used for advertising purposes, indiplaying cakes of soap or similar articles, which are piled up as aneifective display in the upper receptacle portion. When the receptacleis filled, it appears as though the entire tubular stand is filled withthe displayed ware whereby to attract attention with good advertisingresults.

Furthermore, the side walls of the tube may have any desirable printedmatter thereon, for carrying into eifect, the advertising purpose.

The floor piece is held downwardly by the ware -placed and supportedthereon and in addition, it

is found to fit tightly at its edges with the flaps, whereby itsmovement is resisted by the frictional engagement therebetween.

It will appear that in the construction here fiaps at the upper edge,

described that the locking flaps are held in inward position by theirinterfitting relation and gagement is prevented while the stand is inuse.

It is to be noted that the inwardly folded have the additional functionof giving a finished, neat appearance to the stand with an upper, smoothedge at the crease line or hinge of the flap. It also provides theinterior of the receptacle portion with a finished effect of color orsurface similar to the outside of the stand proper, withoutnecessitating the finishing of the inside of the material from which thestand is composed.

Referring now to the modified construction shown in Figures 6 and 7, itwill be noted that the tube 10' may be formed with flaps 13', 14 and 15'of the same construction as defined in the other form, with additionaltriangular shaped flaps 30, on the outer edges thereof, of such size andshape as to collectively constitute a floor piece 22' as shown in Figure7. In this form of the invention, a central bracing piece is employed ofexactly the same construction as shown in Figure 4, and therefore,additional description will not be given here.

It will be obvious from an understanding of the shape and arrangement ofthe parts, that the tube may be opened up and supplied with the bracingpiece centrally thereof, and subsequently the flaps with their hingedlyjoined extensions 30, may be folded inwardly to provide the assembledarrangement shown in Figure 7. In this form, a receptacle is providedfor containing articles to be displayed in the same manner as providedin Figure 1.

It will readily appear from the above description, that this stand maybe set up by quick and simple operation to form a very strong anddurable stand which cannot become disengaged or collapse in use. Theware is supported directly on the fioor piece which is in turn,supported on the upper edges of the interior bracing members providinggreat strength and the ability to support unusually heavy loads.

When the stand is in use, it is understood that the interior bracingmembers extend to the lower edge of the tube, whereby they are supporteddirectly on the floor or other surface on which the stand rests.

I claim:

A display stand comprising a collapsible tubular body formed from aplurality of hingedly connected side wall sections, a fioor piece forsupporting articles to be displayed, said floor piece lying within saidtubular body and in a plane below the upper edge of at least one of saidside walls, a bracing means within said body for preventing collapsingof said tubular body and providing a support for maintaining said floorpiece in fixed position, and a flap extension on said last mentionedside wall adapted to be bent inwardly of the tube and engage the upperportion of said side wall, said fioor piece having an edge bearingagainst said flap extension whereby it will be held in bent overrelationship against said side wall without other securing means.

EARL C. PO'I'IER.

by the floor piece, whereby accidental disen-

